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| Ukraine crisis: Deadline passes for pro-Russian separatists to disarm | Ukraine crisis: Deadline passes for pro-Russian separatists to disarm |
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| The deadline given by the Ukrainian government to pro-Russian separatists, ordering them to disarm and end their occupation of state buildings, came and went on Monday morning – with no immediate sign of any action to force the lingering insurgents out. | The deadline given by the Ukrainian government to pro-Russian separatists, ordering them to disarm and end their occupation of state buildings, came and went on Monday morning – with no immediate sign of any action to force the lingering insurgents out. |
| In an ultimatum issued on Sunday night in a televised address, the country's acting president, Oleksander Turchynov, promised an amnesty to pro-Russian fighters who laid down their arms and left government buildings by 9am (6am GMT). Otherwise, he warned, a full-scale "anti-terrorist" operation would begin. | In an ultimatum issued on Sunday night in a televised address, the country's acting president, Oleksander Turchynov, promised an amnesty to pro-Russian fighters who laid down their arms and left government buildings by 9am (6am GMT). Otherwise, he warned, a full-scale "anti-terrorist" operation would begin. |
| According to reports in the flashpoint city of Slovyansk, where armed men have seized two government buildings, there was no outward sign the rebels were complying with the ultimatum. | According to reports in the flashpoint city of Slovyansk, where armed men have seized two government buildings, there was no outward sign the rebels were complying with the ultimatum. |
| And in the city of Horlivka at least 100 pro-Russian separatists attacked the police headquarters in a fresh assault, a witness told Reuters. | |
| Video footage on Ukrainian television showed an ambulance treating people who were apparently injured during the attack on the main police building in the Donetsk region city, which has a population of around 300,000 people. | Video footage on Ukrainian television showed an ambulance treating people who were apparently injured during the attack on the main police building in the Donetsk region city, which has a population of around 300,000 people. |
| The developments came after Mr Turchynov accused Russia of persistent provocation following the departure of Moscow-backed former president Viktor Yanukovich amid months of pro-Western protests. | The developments came after Mr Turchynov accused Russia of persistent provocation following the departure of Moscow-backed former president Viktor Yanukovich amid months of pro-Western protests. |
| “The blood of Ukrainian heroes has been shed in a war that the Russian Federation is waging against Ukraine,” he said. | “The blood of Ukrainian heroes has been shed in a war that the Russian Federation is waging against Ukraine,” he said. |
| “The aggressor has not stopped and is continuing to sow disorder in the east of the country.” | “The aggressor has not stopped and is continuing to sow disorder in the east of the country.” |
| However, Mr Turchynov has said the Kiev government is "not against" a nationwide referendum being held to decide how Ukraine should move forward. He said he thought such a poll would confirm people's desire for a united and independent Ukraine. | However, Mr Turchynov has said the Kiev government is "not against" a nationwide referendum being held to decide how Ukraine should move forward. He said he thought such a poll would confirm people's desire for a united and independent Ukraine. |
| Pro-separatist rebels have been demanding a referendum, but they only want it held in their home region rather than across the country. | Pro-separatist rebels have been demanding a referendum, but they only want it held in their home region rather than across the country. |
| Russian Foreign Ministry Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that Ukraine's Russian-speaking eastern regions should be involved in drafting a constitution that should be put to the referendum. | Russian Foreign Ministry Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that Ukraine's Russian-speaking eastern regions should be involved in drafting a constitution that should be put to the referendum. |
| Speaking at a news conference after meeting his Sudanese counterpart, Lavrov said it was not in Russia's interests for Ukraine to break up, but that Moscow wanted all citizens of the country to be given equal treatment by Kiev. | Speaking at a news conference after meeting his Sudanese counterpart, Lavrov said it was not in Russia's interests for Ukraine to break up, but that Moscow wanted all citizens of the country to be given equal treatment by Kiev. |
| He denied Ukrainian and US allegations that Russia had undercover agents fomenting unrest in eastern Ukraine, and said he was seeking explanation of media reports that the director of the CIA, John Brennan, had visited Kiev. | He denied Ukrainian and US allegations that Russia had undercover agents fomenting unrest in eastern Ukraine, and said he was seeking explanation of media reports that the director of the CIA, John Brennan, had visited Kiev. |
| Mr Turchynov and other leaders blame Russia, which has already annexed the Crimea region, for inspiring and organising a rash of rebellions in Slovyansk and other Russian-speaking towns in eastern Ukraine. | Mr Turchynov and other leaders blame Russia, which has already annexed the Crimea region, for inspiring and organising a rash of rebellions in Slovyansk and other Russian-speaking towns in eastern Ukraine. |
| Angered by the death of a state security officer and the wounding of two comrades near Slovyansk, Mr Turchynov warned rebels that a full-scale security operation, including the army, would be unleashed unless they met the deadline. | Angered by the death of a state security officer and the wounding of two comrades near Slovyansk, Mr Turchynov warned rebels that a full-scale security operation, including the army, would be unleashed unless they met the deadline. |
| Just hours before the Monday deadline, the United Nations Security Council held an emergency session on Sunday night at Russia's request. | Just hours before the Monday deadline, the United Nations Security Council held an emergency session on Sunday night at Russia's request. |
| “We will not allow Russia to repeat the Crimean scenario in the eastern regions of Ukraine,” Mr Turchynov said. | “We will not allow Russia to repeat the Crimean scenario in the eastern regions of Ukraine,” Mr Turchynov said. |
| The crisis has brought relations between Russia and the West to their lowest point since the end of the Cold War in 1991 and also carries a risk of unleashing a “gas war” which could disrupt energy supplies across Europe. | The crisis has brought relations between Russia and the West to their lowest point since the end of the Cold War in 1991 and also carries a risk of unleashing a “gas war” which could disrupt energy supplies across Europe. |
| Use of force by Kiev's pro-Europe authorities could trigger a fresh confrontation from Russia. Russia's foreign ministry called the planned military operation a “criminal order” and said the West should bring its allies in Ukraine's government under control. | Use of force by Kiev's pro-Europe authorities could trigger a fresh confrontation from Russia. Russia's foreign ministry called the planned military operation a “criminal order” and said the West should bring its allies in Ukraine's government under control. |
| “At this moment, Ukraine teeters on the brink,” the assistant UN Secretary-General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco told Security Council members. | “At this moment, Ukraine teeters on the brink,” the assistant UN Secretary-General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco told Security Council members. |
| He said UN monitors in eastern Ukraine have described seeing pro-separatist protesters as being armed with machine guns and sniper rifles. | He said UN monitors in eastern Ukraine have described seeing pro-separatist protesters as being armed with machine guns and sniper rifles. |
| The US warned that it was likely to impose further sanctions on the Kremlin if the escalation in eastern Ukraine continues. | The US warned that it was likely to impose further sanctions on the Kremlin if the escalation in eastern Ukraine continues. |
| “The fact is that many of the armed units that we've seen were outfitted in bulletproof vests, camouflage uniforms with insignia removed,” US Ambassador Samantha Power said. | “The fact is that many of the armed units that we've seen were outfitted in bulletproof vests, camouflage uniforms with insignia removed,” US Ambassador Samantha Power said. |
| “These armed units ... raised Russian and separatist flags over seized buildings and have called referendums and union with Russia. We know who is behind this.” | “These armed units ... raised Russian and separatist flags over seized buildings and have called referendums and union with Russia. We know who is behind this.” |
| Ukraine's UN Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev added: “This is not a war between Ukrainians, this was artificially created.” | Ukraine's UN Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev added: “This is not a war between Ukrainians, this was artificially created.” |
| But Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin denied Western and Ukrainian claims that Moscow was behind the violence, and told UN diplomats that Ukraine has been using radical neo-Nazi forces to destabilize its eastern region. | But Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin denied Western and Ukrainian claims that Moscow was behind the violence, and told UN diplomats that Ukraine has been using radical neo-Nazi forces to destabilize its eastern region. |
| “It is the West that will determine the opportunity to avoid civil war in Ukraine. Some people, including in this chamber, do not want to see the real reasons for what is happening in Ukraine and are constantly seeing the hand of Moscow in what is going on,” Churkin said. | “It is the West that will determine the opportunity to avoid civil war in Ukraine. Some people, including in this chamber, do not want to see the real reasons for what is happening in Ukraine and are constantly seeing the hand of Moscow in what is going on,” Churkin said. |
| “Enough. That is enough.” | “Enough. That is enough.” |
| He said after the meeting that he hoped Western powers would pressure Ukraine to rethink its deadline for sending in troops. | He said after the meeting that he hoped Western powers would pressure Ukraine to rethink its deadline for sending in troops. |
| “Whether they are going to put an end to this provocation by Kiev, this is their responsibility to prevent further escalation of this crisis,” Churkin said. | “Whether they are going to put an end to this provocation by Kiev, this is their responsibility to prevent further escalation of this crisis,” Churkin said. |
| In Slovyansk, a town of about 120,000 people where separatists are occupying a three-storey police headquarters and the offices of the state security service, there was tension in the air as people tried to go about their normal daily business, Reuters reported. | In Slovyansk, a town of about 120,000 people where separatists are occupying a three-storey police headquarters and the offices of the state security service, there was tension in the air as people tried to go about their normal daily business, Reuters reported. |
| In front of the police headquarters occupied by the separatists a group of about 40 people, who are there in solidarity with the rebels, were warming themselves by blazing fires from oil barrels. | In front of the police headquarters occupied by the separatists a group of about 40 people, who are there in solidarity with the rebels, were warming themselves by blazing fires from oil barrels. |
| Barricades closing off entry to the building were still manned and there were no external signs of any surrender of arms. | Barricades closing off entry to the building were still manned and there were no external signs of any surrender of arms. |
| School and colleges have been closed and parents advised to keep their children indoors. | School and colleges have been closed and parents advised to keep their children indoors. |
| Alexei Myzenko, a 38-year-old bank teller, was at work as usual, but he said he and his wife had told their son, who is at university in the eastern town of Kharkiv, not to attend lectures on Monday. | Alexei Myzenko, a 38-year-old bank teller, was at work as usual, but he said he and his wife had told their son, who is at university in the eastern town of Kharkiv, not to attend lectures on Monday. |
| “We didn't want anything to happen to him,” said Myzenko. | “We didn't want anything to happen to him,” said Myzenko. |
| “Of course, some people are afraid. But they are still lining up to get their pensions,” he said. | “Of course, some people are afraid. But they are still lining up to get their pensions,” he said. |
| Myzenko said his wife, who is a teacher, had been called by the town administration to tell her that school was cancelled until further notice. | Myzenko said his wife, who is a teacher, had been called by the town administration to tell her that school was cancelled until further notice. |
| Iryna Zemlyanskaya, 62, who works as a pharmacist, said: “I am going to work. They've promised to use force so many times and have not done a single thing. No-one's even afraid anymore.” | Iryna Zemlyanskaya, 62, who works as a pharmacist, said: “I am going to work. They've promised to use force so many times and have not done a single thing. No-one's even afraid anymore.” |
| Additional reporting by agencies | Additional reporting by agencies |